We at the Greenway mourn the loss of Hudson Valley icon former Rep. Maurice Hinchey, who passed away this November. Hinchey served in the NYS Assembly before he ran for Congress, and along with Senator Stephen Saland, wrote and sponsored the legislation that created the Hudson River Valley Greenway in 1991. As Congressman, Mr. Hinchey wrote the legislation that created the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area in 1996. It is not an exaggeration to say that we would not be here without the dedication and love that Congressman Hinchey had for the Hudson Valley and its residents. He was a champion of the environment, who supported the Clean Air Act and was an original co-sponsor of the Small Business Clean Energy Financing Act. We offer our condolences to Congressman Hinchey's family; he will be sorely missed. Read more about Hinchey's acccomplishments here.

Heritage Development Grants Available

The Hudson River Valley Greenway and the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (HRVNHA) are pleased to announce the availability of $55,000 in matching grants through the 2018 Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Heritage Development Grant Program.This annual grant program offers funding for programming, interpretation, and marketing projects that support the mutual goals of the HRVNHA and applicants. Grants will typically range from $1,000 to $5,000. Grant program guidelines and applications are available on the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area website: http://www.hudsonrivervalley.com/grants.

Governor Cuomo Announces Registration is Open for the 2018 State of the State

Governer Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced that registration is now open to attend the 2018 State of the State Address on January 3 at 1 p.m. at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. New Yorkers wishing to attend should visit the Governor's homepage to register: www.governor.ny.gov before registration closes on December 15 at 5 p.m. Seating is limited and tickets are non-transferable. In the event that the number of requests exceeds available seating, attendees will be selected by lottery. Guests will be notified of their selection via email no later than January 1.

Thomas Cole Site Announces Essay Contest for Publication

the Thomas Cole National Historic Site is now accepting submissions for the first Essay on American Scenery Essay Contest. Many are familiar with Thomas Cole’s majestic landscape paintings, but the artist was also a prolific writer and published author. Authors are invited to draw inspiration from Cole’s Essay on American Scenery, 1836, and share their own views on how the American landscape is changing today. This is an open call to writers of all ages and backgrounds and an opportunity to become a published author or add to your oeuvre. Submissions will be judged by an expert panel consisting of leading scholars & curators and land conservationists. Submissions are due by Saturday, February 24 and the winning entries will be announced on Monday, March 26 and will be published by The Thomas Cole National Historic Site. For information, call Madeline Conley at 518.943.7465 xt 108.

The Climate Program at the Hudson River Estuary Program has produced a short video "Sea-level rise: planning coastal development" highlighting how the City of Kingston and residents of Piermont are adapting to sea-level rise and coastal flooding. The second offering in the “Adaptation Inspiration” series, this video reviews the causes of sea level rise and showcases the positive approaches with which these communities are adapting to this consequence of climate change. The video is available here. Visit the climate program’s webpage on climate resilience case studies to learn more about flood-adaptive planning efforts.

Staatsburgh State Historic Site will present A Gilded Age Christmas, featuring sumptuous decorations and special craft and children’s programs, from November 24 through New Year’s Eve. The mansion’s lavish decorations evoke a turn-of-the-century style, recreating the atmosphere of holidays long-ago in one of the great estates of the Hudson Valley. Read more here.

Christmas at John Jay Homestead, Katonah, NY

Thursdays – Saturdays, December 1 – 31; 1pm, 2pm, 3pm: Celebrate the holiday season at John Jay Homestead with a guided tour of John Jay's historic Bedford House focusing on the holiday traditions and decorations of the 1820s. Wednesday, December 20 through Friday, December 22; 5pm-7pm. Candlelight Tours: Experience John Jay’s historic Bedford House as it takes on the glow of candlelight to celebrate the holiday season. Read more here.

Holiday Whodunit: A History Mystery in the Mansion at Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Staatsburg, NY

Each Sunday in December, children become detectives to solve a “history mystery” by talking with costumed interpreters throughout the mansion, who provide clues to help them discover “whodunit.” The program presents a new mystery every year. Families can drop in between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to enjoy the program together, at their own pace, amidst the decorated historic rooms. Read more here.

Holiday Tours at Philipse Manor Hall, Yonkers, NY

December 3 - 30, learn about the way the different eras of the Philipse family observed during the holidays during the first generation in the 1680's to the last generation in the 1760’s.Discover the historical origins of many of our modern holiday traditions and decorations, while enjoying the multi-generational decorations done by Morsemere Garden Club and learning about the history of the Manor Hall. Read more here.

Paper Quilling Workshop at Staatsburgh, Staatsburg, NY

On December 8, Take a break from the holiday rush and join local crafter, Margaret Britton, to learn the basics of paper quilling. Participants will learn how to make a lovely ornament or decoration for a card. Easy to learn, quilling has been practiced for centuries and creates lovely patterned designs using strips of paper. A tool and materials will be supplied, and refreshments will be served. Read more here.

Saint Nicholas Day at the Historical Society of Rockland County, New City, NY

December 9-10, visit the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House to celebrate Saint Nicholas, including traditional Dutch celebration, stories, refreshments and St. Nicholas himself. Each child receives a special treat in his or her shoe from Saint Nicholas. Read more here.

19th Century Holiday Cards at Olana, Hudson, NY

On December 9, Patti Gibbons will teach the art of making your own holiday stationery to send your loved one - a 19th inspired century keepsake by mail. Supplies and refreshments will be provided. Read more here.

Eleanor Roosevelt Holiday Open House, Hyde Park, NY

December 9: Refreshments and music will be provided by the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt Historical Association and Val-Kill will be decorated as it was during Eleanor Roosevelt's lifetime. Read more here.

Oakwood Cemetery's Family Christmas Concert, Troy, NY

December 9: Enjoy the beauty of the Gardner Earl Chapel and its excellent acoustics. Listen to familiar carols by the Highlight Acting Troupe and sing along with your favorites. Sip hot cocoa and nibble on Christmas cookies provided by the Friends of Oakwood Cemetery. The chapel will be adorned with clever decorations created by the Halfmoon Button Club. There will even be a ‘surprise visitor’ for the young and young at heart. Call 1-800-556-6273 to register.

St. Nicholas Day, Fort Crailo State Historic Site, Rensselaer, NY

December 9: For the Dutch settlers of this region The Feast of St. Nicholas was a day of celebration with favorite food and treats. During the event the entire museum will be open for exploring. Interpreters in period clothing will be preparing seasonal dishes on the open hearth fireplace in the cellar kitchen. There will be snacks for sampling and cider for drinking. Read more here.

The Art of Wax: Beeswax Candle Making at Olana, Hudson, NY

On December 9, Megan Denver from Hudson Valley Bee Supply will teach the art of making rolled and dipped beeswax candles - a learning experience for all! Read more here.

Christmas with the Ellisons at Knox's Headquarters, Vails Gate, NY

On December 9, tour the elegantly appointed 1754 Ellison house decorated for Christmas and staffed by Revolutionary War era costumed interpreters. Please call (845) 561-1765 X22 for more information.

Friends of Clermont Holiday Party, Germantown, NY

On December 9, this party opens the doors of this Historic mansion as a thank you for all the support members have provided throughout the year. Celebrate with friends and music in the library. Read more here.

Warm Up at the Washingtons’, Washington's Headquarters, Newburgh, NY

On December 10, historic interpreters in each seasonally decorated room will greet visitors and share what took place when the Washingtons occupied the Hasbrouck farmhouse during the last winter of the Revolutionary War. The Salmagundi Consort will perform period appropriate music by an indoor Dutch jambless fireplace, while cookies and warm cider are served near an outdoor fire. Read more here.

On December 10, this free fundraising event will feature games for kids, live music, and the opportunity for children to visit Santa and have their photo taken! An incredible assortment of themed raffle baskets will also be available. Read more here.

Children’s Story Hour at Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Staatsburg, NY

On December 13, pre-school age children are invited to gather around the mansion’s Christmas tree and listen to some great stories read by Staatsburg Librarian, Lisa Prentiss. Refreshments and a simple craft activity follow. Read more here.

On December 13, master storyteller Jonathan Kruk returns to the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame to bring to life A Christmas Carol, the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge by Charles Dickens. In top hat and frock coat, Kruk will showcase his imaginative retelling of Scrooge and his spectral visitors, giving voice to thirty different characters in this tale of redemption and hope. Read more here.

Winnakee-Dutchess Trails Roundtable, Hyde Park, NY

On December 14th, community leaders, project partners, and the public are invited to attend the final Roundtable Meeting of 2017. Andy Beers, Empire State Trail Director, will lead a discussion about the Beacon Rail Trail and other Empire State Trail proposed projects in Dutchess County. Read more here.

Special Evening Hours at Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Staatsburg, NY

on December 15, spend a festive evening at the beautifully-decorated mansion, with costumed guides in the historic rooms, live music, and gift shopping. Read more here.

On December 16, join Santa for a photo in a one horse open sleigh, play games and enjoy craft time making a red horsey Christmas stocking or Star of David suncatcher. The whole family will enjoy sweet treats and a ride on the Museum’s harness racing 3-D Simulator. Read more here.

Christmas at Clermont Open House, Germantown, NY

December 16: A great day for families. See the house with Christmas decorations accenting the historic interiors. Free admission. Read more here.

Wassailing at Knox's Headquarters, Vails Gate, NY

December 16: By candlelight watch the Ellison family and soldiers and officers of the 2nd and 3rd Continental Artillery Regiments celebrate a rowdy Christmas Eve in the traditional 18th century manner. Read more here.

Candlelight Tours of Clermont, Germantown, NY

December 17: Tableaux Vivant of Christmas traditions through the ages, glittering decorations, and wassail and traditional holiday goodies served in the historic kitchen. Read more here.

Candlelight Tours of The Jacob Blauvelt House, New City, NY

December 17, January 7&14: Spend an enchanting evening at the historic 1832 Jacob Blauvelt farmhouse, illuminated with candlelight and lanterns, fragrant with traditional sweets, and decorated with festive greenery. Experience Dutch American holiday traditions of the 1830s with nineteenth century music and song and seasonal refreshments. Read more here.

Candlelight Tours at Philipse Manor Hall, Yonkers, NY

December 19: Under the cover of darkness, with only candles to light the way, come learn about the way the different eras of the Philipse family observed during the holidays during the first generation in the 1680's to the last generation in the 1760’s. Read more here.

Open House at Knox's Headquarters, Vails Gate, NY

December 27-29: Tour the elegant 1754 stone house decorated for the season in 18th century fashion.

School Break Kids Craft Workshop: Make A Mouse House at Staatsburgh, Staatsburg, NY

December 27-29: For these workshops, kids ages 6-10 tour the house briefly to see mouse houses on display in the mansion’s historic rooms, then use craft materials to build their own mouse house to take home. Read more here.

A Cure for Cabin Fever at Washington's Headquarters, Newburgh, NY

December 27-30: Visitors will be able to take a guided tour of the historic headquarters, seasonally decorated, and hear how the Washingtons acknowledged their holiday season during the final winter of the Revolutionary War. Read more here.

First Day Family Fun at John Jay Homestead, Katonah, NY

January 1, kick-start your New Year’s resolutions with a First Day Hike on the grounds of John Jay Homestead. Warm up by the bonfire with a cup of hot cocoa. Pick up a self-guided landscape tour between 1pm and 2pm at the registration table in the main parking lot. Read more here.

The Georgian/Dutch-style fieldstone house was built in 1754 for prosperous merchant John Ellison. General Henry Knox, the Continental Army’s commander of artillery, used the home as his headquarters in 1779 and during the winter of 1780 to 1781, while training soldiers in a nearby artillery park. Quartermaster General Nathanael Greene also lived here in the summer of 1779, while Major General Horatio Gates took up residence in the fall of 1782, when he commanded the nearby New Windsor Cantonment, the Continental Army’s final encampment. Throughout its military use, Ellison and his wife, Catharine, continued to live in the house. Today, it is furnished with pieces that reflect the wealth of the Ellison family as well as its military heritage. Plan your trip here.

Project Spotlight: FDR State Park History Trail

In 2016, the Friends of FDR State Park were awarded a Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Heritage Development Grant for the production, and installation of five bilingual interpretive signs as part of a History Trail. The signs highlight several interesting aspects of the park, including the history of the state park; the role of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC); the accomplishments of CCC Company 2218‐V at the park from 1935‐1942; CCC‐related artifacts, structures, and work/living sites in the park; and the local community’s connections to FDR State Park, highlighting the original farmsteads and railway access. The park is located 40 miles north of NYC, and is visited by approximately 500,000 people each year, giving these signs an even greater impact.

Green Tip of the Month:Decorate for the holidays the old-fashioned way

Use pinecones, evergreen boughs and garlands of popcorn and cranberries (put garlands outdoors later for birds to enjoy). Hang cookie cutters and snowflakes cut from used paper. LED lights are a greener choice than traditional lights. Avoid using tinsel; trees with tinsel can't be composted. Find more ways to green your holidays here.

Grant and Funding Opportunities

Hudson River Valley Greenway Grant Program

Matching grants available for Greenway Communities and Greenway Compact Communities. Deadline: February 9, 2018. More here.

National Heritage Area Sponsorships Available

The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (HRVNHA) will partner with various organizations to sponsor programs and events that reinforce the Heritage Area’s mission. While complementing the mission of the Heritage Area, cultural, heritage and recreational events deliver significant tourism and economic benefits to communities, and encourage local and regional partnerships. Municipalities and nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations located within the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area are eligible to apply. For more information, please contact Dan Jeanson at daniel.jeanson@hudsongreenway.ny.gov or 518-473-3835.

Park and Trail Partnership Program Grants

Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), with support from Governor Cuomo and the NYS Legislature, are pleased to announce the third round of $500,000 in competitive grants through the NYS Park and Trail Partnership Program funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. The grants are available to organizations that support parks, trails, historic sites and public lands, and are administered by PTNY, in partnership with OPRHP. This year, for the first time, grants will also be available to organizations that support public lands managed by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Applications are due December 8, 2017. Read more here.

Conserve and Protect Our Water Poster Contest

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation [DEC] and the New York Water Environment Association are sponsoring a “Conserve and Protect Our Water” poster contest that is open to all middle school students (Grades 6-8). Fourteen winners will have the honor of having their artwork in a calendar that will be distributed across New York State. The deadline for submitting posters is January 12, 2018. Read more here.

NYS DEC Grants for Urban Environmental Education Centers

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced $1 million in new grants for Urban Environmental Education Centers. The new grant opportunity for Urban Environmental Education Centers, administered by DEC, supports the Governor's environmental justice platform and promotes education. These grants are available for community-based organizations to develop environmental education centers in urban areas to educate residents about their environment, ecology, environmental justice challenges, green technology, and urban environmental sustainability. The grant opportunity is available on the New York State Grants Gateway. Applications are due February 2, 2018 at 3 p.m.

New York State Assembly Grants Action News

State, federal, and private grant information from the New York State Assembly. More here.

National Park Service Rails and Trails Program Seeks Volunteers

If you love history and trains, the National Park Service is seeking volunteers for the Trails and Rails program which is locally presented aboard Amtrak's Adirondack traveling up the Hudson River Valley from New York to Montreal. Trails and Rails brings the National Parks aboard Amtrak trains. Volunteers present programs on board the train about the history of the region and cultural and natural resources of the route. Volunteers are provided with training about the history and a uniform. These programs are presented in partnership with the Saratoga National Historical Park and the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. Additional information about Trails and Rails can be found here. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Joe LaLumia here.